Apparatus for controlling a characteristic of a material



Dec. 25, 1934.. 'r. A. BTRYSON APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A CHARACTERISTIC OF A MATERIAL Filed Oct. 25, 1931 //v vs/v rak 747M914 firyson A fro/av; Ys

Patented Dec. 25, 1934 Wired STATES APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A CHAR,- ACTERISTIC OF A MATERIAL I Tandy A. Bryson, Troy, N. I Application October 23, 1931, Serial No. 570,726 9 Claims. (on. 9246) My invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling the consistency, viscosity, plasticity, density, or such other characteristic of a fluent or plastic material as may effect a varia- 5 tion in the force required to move said material or an element therein. For'example, variations in the consistency of paper stock will effect corresponding variations in the power required to pump said stock against a constant head, or corresponding variations in the power required to move an element in or through said stock. On the other hand variations in acidity, alkalinity, turbidity, etc., of a given material-may, in many instances, effect variations in the force required to move the material or an element therein, and these characteristics may be controlled indirectly by their effect on other characteristics affecting the magnitude of the force required to move the material or an element therein.

It has hitherto been proposed to employ a small auxiliary motor to measure the consistency of fluent material and to control the consistency by variations in the power required to operate the motor. Such measurement, however, on account of the small forces employed, is a delicate one and is accordingly objectionable. A further objection to the device is that it involves a considerable amount of wiring in locations where delicate motors and complicated electric wiring are objectionable.

In accordance with my invention I preferably utilize a device for manipulatingthe fluent material which is normally used or employed in the treatment thereof, and control a characteristic of the material primarily in accordance with variations in the amount of power required to actuate the device. Such a device. is particularly applicable in the manipulation or handling of paper stock, although it will of course be understood that my invention is not limited to this use..

My invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawing in which I have'illustrated a preferred embodiment thereof and in which v u Fig. 1 is a side view partially in section of a device embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view partially in section of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

- Like reference characters indicate throughout the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, 10 is an inlet pipe for fluent paper pulp leading to a pump 11 which impels or forces the stock to a discharge outlet elevation taken along the like parts present embodiment the 12, the pump working against a constant differ ence of head. The pump is actuated by a shaft 13 on which is mounted the rotor of an electricv motor indicated generally at 14, the stator being mounted within the casing 15. The motor bear- 5 ings are extended to "form journals for ball or roller bearings in standards 16. The journal 17 surrounding the shaft 13 at the right of the motor as viewed in Fig. 1 is extended to accommodate a worm wheel 18 which is rotatably mounted on a 10 sleeve 19 surrounding the journal 17. The ball bearings for the journal are indicated at the right of the motor at 20, and the sleeve 19 which is secured to the journal 17 may serve to clamp the inner race for the ball bearing in position within 15 its-housing 21 1 At the left of the motor as viewed in Fig. 1, the extended journal is provided with a valve shaft 22 passing-through a stufling box 23 in a valvehead 24, the outer end of the shaft 22 being provided with a suitable valve 25 which controls the flow of water or other diluent from a supply pipe 26 to a pipe 27 connected to the inlet 10.

The. rotation of the armature. of the motor produces, of course, reactancein the field coils of the stator which, as already described, is rotatably mounted. The rotation of the-stator with its field coils however is resisted by' suitable means, here illustrated as a weight 28 attachedto-the free end of a flexible member 29 passing overan idler 30, the opposite end of the flexible member being connected to the motor casing as at 31. In ordersthat the movement of the stator may not be over sensitive, means are provided for damping the moveme t thereof and in the veight 28 is illustrated as moving in a" cylindrica housing 32 in which is contained a viscous fluid 33. The movement of the weight in the downward direction is limited by a lug 34 on the casing of the stator which engages a resiliently mounted stop 35.

Since'it is desirable to use the device for materials -of various predetermined consistencies, some means for pre-adjustment is desirable. The 45 worm wheel 18 turns freely on the sleeve 19. A resilient or yielding connection is made between the sleeve 19 and the worm wheel 18, preferably by means of'a spiral spring 36. This spiral spring is mounted to assist the counter-weight 28 in balancing the stator reaction; consequently it is desirable to have the counter-weight exert the major force in resisting the movement of the stator and to obtain the necessary additional balancing forces by the adjustable spring 36. 5

' of a centrifugal pump to hog water.

Such adjustment is accomplished by a worm 37 mounted on a shaft 38 having its bearings at 39 in brackets secured to the standard 16, the shaft being actuated by a hand wheel 40, and the \worm 37 engaging the worm wheel 38. The sleeve 19 is preferably provided with a pointer 41 extending outwardly over the outer face of the worm wheel 18 which may be calibrated as at 42. The indicationpf the pointer on the scale may, therefore, be'used as a measure of the spring stress or, with a proper calibration of the scale, this indication may be read in terms of consistency.

The operation of the device embodying my invention will readily be understood by the foregoing description and is as follows:

Assuming that the rotor of the motor and the pump rotate counter-clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 2, the stator will tend to rotate clockwise. Such clockwise rotation of the rotor, however, is resisted both by the major force exerted by the counter-weight 28 and by the minor force exerted by the spring 36, and with the spring set for handling material of a desired consistency, the stator remains stationary. Assuming that there is a variation in consistency from the predetermined standard, more or less power, as the case may be, will be required from the motor, and the balance established between the rotor and stator by the weight and spring will be destroyed. Consequently, the stator will move clockwise or counterclockwise, as the case may be, and open or close the diluent valve.

"While I have illustrated and described a device suitable for the manipulation of paper pulp, it will be understood that my invention is applicable to the treatment of other materials, and that characteristics other than the consistency may be controlled.

By employing one of the regular units used in the manipulation of the material to measure and correct a characteristic thereof, I am able to eliminate a great deal of auxiliary equipment the sole purpose of which is to control the consistency or other characteristic. Furthermore, I am utilizing comparatively small variations in comparatively large forces as a measure of the characteristic, thereby reducing the percentage of error, and directly utilizing these variations to effect a correction.

In claiming my invention I have said that the armature of the motor is connected to or drives the pump. It is well known that in certain types of motors the field instead of the armature is normally the rotor ormoving element. Hence it is to be understood that the terms armature and field are interchangeable in the claims.

Furthermore, I am well aware of the tendency Hence, in many instances less instead of more power will be required to operate the motor as the consistency increases. Therefore, although the drawing illustrates the operation of my device based upon the premise that an increase inconsistency requires an increase in the power re-.

quired to manipulate the material, an increase in consistency may require less power and hence the valve action must be reversed. a

What I claim is k 1. In combination, a device normally employed for the manipulation of fluent material during the treatment thereof, an electric motor for actuating said device and having two independently movable elements, and means operable in re sponse to the movement of one of said elements for controlling thev consistency of said material.

2. In combination, a device normally employed for the manipulation 'of fluent pulp stock during the treatment thereof, an electric motor, the field of said motor being movably mounted and the armature of said motor being connected to said device, and means responsive to the movement of said field for varying the consistency of the paper pulp stock.

3. In combination, a device normally employed for the manipulation of paper stock during the treatment thereof, an electric motor, the field of said motor being movably mounted and the armature of said motor being connected to said device, a valve for controlling the amount of diluent in said stock, and means operable in response to the movement of said field for varying the opening of said valve.

4. In combination, a device normally employed for the manipulation of fluent material during the treatment thereof, an electric motor, the field of said motor being movably mounted and the armature of said motor being connected to said device for actuating the same, means comprising a valve for controlling the admission of fluent material to said stock, and means responsive to the movement of said field for controlling the position of said valve and thereby controlling the consistency of said stock. V

5. In combination, a device normally employed for the manipulation of fluent material during the treatment thereof, a motor comprising a first movable element connected to said device for actuating the same, and a second, independently movable element, means fornormally maintaining said second element in balanced reactive relation to said first element, and means responsive to the movement of said second element for controlling the'consistency of said material.

6. In combination, a device for manipulating fluent material during the normal treatment thereof, a motor comprising a first movable element connected to said device for actuating the same, and a second, independently movable element mounted in reactive relationship to said first element, means for establishing a balance between said elements including means for exerting a constant force and a variable adjustable force for maintaining said balance, and means operable in accordance with the unbalanced movements of said second element for controlling a characteristic of said material.

7. In combination, a device for manipulating fluent material during the normal treatment thereof, a motor comprising a first movable element connected to said device for actuating the same and a second independently movable element mounted in reactive relationship to said first element, means for exerting a relatively large constant force and a relatively small, variable,

adjustable force for normally preventing the.

movement of said second element, and means operable in accordance with the movement'of said second'element for controlling a characteristic of said material.

8. In combination, a device-for manipulating fluent paper stock during the normal treatment thereof, a motor comprising a first movable element connected to said device for actuating the same and a second independently movable element mounted in reactive relationship to said first ,element, means for exerting a comparatively large constant force and a relatively small variable adjustable force for resisting the movement of said second element, and means operable in accordance with the movement of said second element for controlling the consistency of the stock.

9. In a device for manipulating a fluent or plastic material a variation in the characteristic 5 of which efiects a variation in the fluency or plasticity of said material; the combination with an electric motor having a movably mounted field and a rotatably mounted armature for actuating said device, of means for maintainins said field and armature in substantially balanced reactive relation-when said characteristic conforms to a. prescribed standard, and means operable by forces disturbing said balanced reactive relation for correctinf said characteristic.

TANDY A. BRYSON. 

